Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-12-01
THANKSGIVING EVENING.
DODGE CITY, KAs. Nov. "a, 1881

set apart for the purpose of all people
to rest and mediate upon the good gifts,
and successes during the preceding
year. 4 public celebration of Divine
goodness. We have not observed this
day: The routine of labor has been the
same. But now as the silent watches
of night hover around, and quietude
seems so universal, it seems surely the
world at large are becoming mere and
more,as time rolls on, to fall in line with
the prevailing custom so long observed
by most COCA people in this Nation. The
poor in many regions Of country rejoice
over the kindly recollections conferred
upon them in the way of greatful dona-
tions. While any omissions bring sad
ness to the heart. A few years ago it
was the writer's unhappy lot to stop at
house in a sister state, and desiring to
rest a few moments, the topic of the
day at once came up that this was
Thanksgiving day. A sweet little girl,
just entering her teens, sitting close by
her mother side began to weep, and
arose and left, and then the great tears
came into her mothers eyes. Not
word was spoken for some moments; at
last | took courage and asked the lady
what it was that seemed to trouble her.
She said she shed tears because Nettie
did; that she arose early that morning
and the Sabbath school children had
been invited out to dinner, and Nsttie
did not have clothing that she could
wear to Sunday school, but the evening
before one of the teachers had called
and told her that they would stop and
take her along. This morning the lady
said they passed and not one of them
so much as even looked at the house,
and the poor child had been crying all
day. There never was a gift better
bestowed than the last five dollar bill [
had, which was given to that little girl.
The facts are that the joys and happy
hours of many bring sorrows upon 9TH
ers. The marks by the vayside of life,
where suffering is most, are too often
unnoticed by those who have means to
spare.
tits the children of this nation which
is the glory Of the nation. The bad
boys are often provoking and rude in
their manipulations, but now and then
we see the germs of the most noble
manhood cropping out in early youth.
The little girls are the tenderest OBJ
jects Of the nations care. There is an
innocent beauty in good and kind
little girl. There is manliness and no.
Bile independence in a manly little boy.
The fathers and mothers are the prime
causes of all these little defects so read
! lily noticed, by men and women, who
are close observers. The boy when he
first enters school carries with him the
markes of his parental government so
plainly seen by competent teacher
that that teacher sees all through the
workings of that home. Go to your
teacher and ask this question: Teach
er can you tell whether the parents of
that boy drive him at home, or lead
him? That teacher will not miss once
in twenty times. The teacher can tell
whether the parents command or re-
quest, and above all other traits wherh-
er there is kindness and politeness in
the family. The great statesman, Pat
rick Henry took charge of a country
school to learn the character Of the peo-
pie, and by making that his aim made
perfect failure as a teacher. The
thanksgiving evening calls to my mind
the many events which have occurred in
my comparatively short life which are
ladened with many events Of Joy and
much sorrow. The Christmas evenings
at the Christmas trees, so common now
in this country, is another season that
brings with it like results.
The miserable bad practice of the
wealthy waiting until the Christmas tree
time come round to give their children
gold watches, silk dresses, and fine no.
siers and beautiful bonnets. The wait
Ing until then for Mrs. Jones and Mrs.
Smith to receive great donation by a
doting husband. Not so doting as you
think, generally. This practice brings
more sorrow than unthinking people
know.
Some poor little girl or boy becomes
dissatisfied with home, and even with
parents to certain degree. They will |
say that they wish they had rich faith
err, or they wished they had money or
were in the place of the Jones or the
Smiths. Where is there a poor man
who has ever sat by his wife in one Of
those Christmas gatherings, and when
he would see his children get up as high |
as possible and look with eager eyes see
ing this one and that one get rich pre-
sents, and see the little hands reach out,
only asking to look at the nice present,
and just as apt to be refused to look at
it. That poor father would rather take
his wife and family of children and go to
his bone. And nine times out of ten he
will never go again. Thanksgiving is
far better day. 1t is heart service day,
1t is day that gratitude takes its way
home to every family alike. The mother
is WELL the children have been spared,
the year has been spent thus far In safe
ty and, the outlook is better and better
1t is day that families come and 60,
and even remain at home as they see pro-
per, and particular demonstrations are
required. The custom of dress, and
foolish fashion has ruined many a home
pleasures. 1t has kept many poor